Apelin increases cardiac contractility via protein kinase Cε- and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent mechanisms.

<h4>Background</h4>Apelin, the endogenous ligand for the G protein-coupled apelin receptor, is an important regulator of the cardiovascular homoeostasis. We previously demonstrated that apelin is one of the most potent endogenous stimulators of cardiac contractility; however, its underly...

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Main Authors: Ábel Perjés, Réka Skoumal, Olli Tenhunen, Attila Kónyi, Mihály Simon, Iván G Horváth, Risto Kerkelä, Heikki Ruskoaho, István Szokodi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0093473&type=printable
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author Ábel Perjés
Réka Skoumal
Olli Tenhunen
Attila Kónyi
Mihály Simon
Iván G Horváth
Risto Kerkelä
Heikki Ruskoaho
István Szokodi
author_facet Ábel Perjés
Réka Skoumal
Olli Tenhunen
Attila Kónyi
Mihály Simon
Iván G Horváth
Risto Kerkelä
Heikki Ruskoaho
István Szokodi
author_sort Ábel Perjés
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Apelin, the endogenous ligand for the G protein-coupled apelin receptor, is an important regulator of the cardiovascular homoeostasis. We previously demonstrated that apelin is one of the most potent endogenous stimulators of cardiac contractility; however, its underlying signaling mechanisms remain largely elusive. In this study we characterized the contribution of protein kinase C (PKC), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) to the positive inotropic effect of apelin.<h4>Methods and results</h4>In isolated perfused rat hearts, apelin increased contractility in association with activation of prosurvival kinases PKC and ERK1/2. Apelin induced a transient increase in the translocation of PKCε, but not PKCα, from the cytosol to the particulate fraction, and a sustained increase in the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in the left ventricle. Suppression of ERK1/2 activation diminished the apelin-induced increase in contractility. Although pharmacological inhibition of PKC attenuated the inotropic response to apelin, it had no effect on ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Moreover, the apelin-induced positive inotropic effect was significantly decreased by inhibition of MLCK, a kinase that increases myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Apelin increases cardiac contractility through parallel and independent activation of PKCε and ERK1/2 signaling in the adult rat heart. Additionally MLCK activation represents a downstream mechanism in apelin signaling. Our data suggest that, in addition to their role in cytoprotection, modest activation of PKCε and ERK1/2 signaling improve contractile function, therefore these pathways represent attractive possible targets in the treatment of heart failure.
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spelling doaj-art-76dcd1f4434048bfac3312b5f194a8e32025-08-20T02:14:55ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-0194e9347310.1371/journal.pone.0093473Apelin increases cardiac contractility via protein kinase Cε- and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent mechanisms.Ábel PerjésRéka SkoumalOlli TenhunenAttila KónyiMihály SimonIván G HorváthRisto KerkeläHeikki RuskoahoIstván Szokodi<h4>Background</h4>Apelin, the endogenous ligand for the G protein-coupled apelin receptor, is an important regulator of the cardiovascular homoeostasis. We previously demonstrated that apelin is one of the most potent endogenous stimulators of cardiac contractility; however, its underlying signaling mechanisms remain largely elusive. In this study we characterized the contribution of protein kinase C (PKC), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) to the positive inotropic effect of apelin.<h4>Methods and results</h4>In isolated perfused rat hearts, apelin increased contractility in association with activation of prosurvival kinases PKC and ERK1/2. Apelin induced a transient increase in the translocation of PKCε, but not PKCα, from the cytosol to the particulate fraction, and a sustained increase in the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in the left ventricle. Suppression of ERK1/2 activation diminished the apelin-induced increase in contractility. Although pharmacological inhibition of PKC attenuated the inotropic response to apelin, it had no effect on ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Moreover, the apelin-induced positive inotropic effect was significantly decreased by inhibition of MLCK, a kinase that increases myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Apelin increases cardiac contractility through parallel and independent activation of PKCε and ERK1/2 signaling in the adult rat heart. Additionally MLCK activation represents a downstream mechanism in apelin signaling. Our data suggest that, in addition to their role in cytoprotection, modest activation of PKCε and ERK1/2 signaling improve contractile function, therefore these pathways represent attractive possible targets in the treatment of heart failure.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0093473&type=printable
spellingShingle Ábel Perjés
Réka Skoumal
Olli Tenhunen
Attila Kónyi
Mihály Simon
Iván G Horváth
Risto Kerkelä
Heikki Ruskoaho
István Szokodi
Apelin increases cardiac contractility via protein kinase Cε- and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent mechanisms.
PLoS ONE
title Apelin increases cardiac contractility via protein kinase Cε- and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent mechanisms.
title_full Apelin increases cardiac contractility via protein kinase Cε- and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent mechanisms.
title_fullStr Apelin increases cardiac contractility via protein kinase Cε- and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent mechanisms.
title_full_unstemmed Apelin increases cardiac contractility via protein kinase Cε- and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent mechanisms.
title_short Apelin increases cardiac contractility via protein kinase Cε- and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent mechanisms.
title_sort apelin increases cardiac contractility via protein kinase cε and extracellular signal regulated kinase dependent mechanisms
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0093473&type=printable
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